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These 15 Best Candle Brands Will Instantly Enhance Your Life

Your apartment smells better already.

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Otherland

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Whoever had the brilliant thought to set a block of burning wax on fire to create a ~vibe~ deserves my everlasting devotion. Because lemme tell ya, my life can be in utter disarray, my bank account in absolute shambles, and my jarred scented cuties will be set ablaze.

No matter who you are, or how good or bad things are going for you, candles just make everything better, ya know? And that's probably why you're here right now, looking to add another to your collection for a little extra ambiance in your tiny apartment. Lucky for you, we've gathered all the best candle brands in one spot because we know you love convenience just like us.

The Best Candle Companies of 2024

We've got everything from aromatherapy candles that'll turn your home into a bougie-as-hell spa to affordable candles that smell like your favorite rich auntie. Oh, and you better believe we included some super sexy luxury candles that are actually worth your hard earned coins (and have burn times and throws out of this world). Whichever mood you're in, there's no doubt you'll find something for any and every vibe that hits you...including those moments when you're feelin' a little frisky 😏.

Enough from us. It's time for you to take a good ol' scroll, and shop from the 15 best candle brands of the moment. When you find the perfect one (or 12), you can thank us later.

1
best under-the-radar candles

Golden Gems Hazel Candle

Hazel Candle

Pros

  • Made from 100% soy wax
  • 70-hour burn time
  • Also comes in a perfume—a spray and rollerball!
  • Hand-poured in small batches
  • Comes in two sizes

Cons

  • Literally can't think of any—you need this

I live and die by this candle, this scent, this brand. If I'm being really real, I diiiid think about gatekeeping, but y'all really need this company In! Your! Life! Golden Gems is a St. Louis, Missouri-based boutique with finds so good, your credit card will be thanking you for swiping it. They have a fabulous apothecary line (all created in-house!) full of perfumes, room and linen sprays, and ofc, candles. I'm fully obsessed with this Rebel scent and how they perfectly blended rose, plum, and pepper, but you literally can't go wrong with any of the fragrance options.

2
best celebration candles

Rewined Magnum Nog Candle

Magnum Nog Candle

Pros

  • Has a minimum of 150 hour burn time
  • Have several collections perfect for any occasion or time of year

Cons

  • None I can think of!

My first encounter with this Charleston, South Carolina brand was for a promotion and a milestone birthday. So, I highly recommend skipping a congratulatory bottle of bubbly and instead taking the fun, unexpected route and opting for a candle from their cocktail collection—aka scents evoking a Cosmopolitan, French 75, Paloma, Gin Fizz, and Spritz. The biggest sizes are perfect "You did it!" gifts, and the smaller ones make fab party favors and gift basket additions. And, this nog scent from Rewined's holiday collection? Literally made for your festive soirees, but if you're like me and don't mind your apartment smelling like almond, nutmeg, and cognac all year long, get it.

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Rosso Nobile Tormalina Candle

Pros

  • Comes in So! Many! great scents
  • Can get the fragrance in different forms (diffuser! room spray! car air freshener!)
  • Available in six (!) sizes

Cons

  • On the pricier side

I am obsessed with Dr. Vranjes Firenze, there is no simpler way to put it. It's straight out of Florence, Italy, so you know it just screams chic. And while you truly can't go wrong with any of the fragrances from the brand, the Rosso Nobile is like a masterclass in candle craftsmanship. If you want to mentally transport from your shabby apartment to sipping outrageously delicious Tuscan red wine on the Italian countryside, light this baby up.

Aurora Scented Candle

Pros

  • Comes in two different sizes
  • Has a ton of lovely, unique fragrances

Cons

  • None worth mentioning, tbh!

L'or de Seraphine is really a triple threat. Each candle arrives in a gorge gift box ✔️. Every scent has a decorative vessel with a lid ✔️. They are the most perfect canisters once you burn the candle down ✔️.

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5
best long-lasting candles

Byredo Burning Rose Candle

Burning Rose Candle
Credit: Byredo

Pros

  • Chic votive and packaging (glass is mouth-blown!)
  • Long burn time
  • Handmade in France

Cons

  • Some reviews say scent doesn't dissipate as well

In the mood to try something fancy? Byredo’s addictive candles—which were made to translate emotions into fragrance—are worth the splurge. Each of their scents comes in a beautiful black smoked glass that will not only elevate any room with its looks but also its soothing floral aromas. Plus, they've got a loooong burning time (60 hours!). This one has notes of rose petals, violet, and birch tree for a rich but not too overpowering fragrance.

6
best cult-favorite candles

Le Labo Verveine 32 Classic Candle

Verveine 32 Classic Candle
Credit: Le Labo

Pros

  • Really fills a room with fragrance
  • Brand also makes other home and beauty products in the same scents
  • Paraben-free, cruelty free, and vegan

Cons

  • Preeeetty pricey

Le Labo is another crowd fave—especially Verveine 32. The brand launched in 2006 with signature names that indicate how many scent notes are in each candle. They also make perfumes, body oils, and laundry detergents.

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7
best feel-good candles

Mala the Brand Sundays Candle

Sundays Candle
Credit: Mala the Brand

Pros

  • Tree is planted with every purchase
  • Made with non-toxic and eco-friendly materials
  • Can choose to ship without packaging

Cons

  • Must spend $175+ to get free shipping

Calling all "soft girls" (and just anyone who loves a dreamy candle twinkling in their home), Mala the Brand is for you. Made with non-toxic and eco-friendly materials, these vegan candles are ones you can definitely feel good about giving or getting. Oh! And a tree is planted with every purchase!

Silky Pillar Candle

Pros

  • Handmade (and handcarved!) by a one person team
  • Affordable
  • Labeled "star seller" on Etsy

Cons

  • Maker notes that the shapes make the candles overflow when burning, so you'll need to make sure the candle is on a candle plate

At least one fun and unique candle is required in your collection, and they truly don't get any better than when they're in pillar or taper form. And clearly, CaiCaiHandmade knows this! Run to this small biz whenever you need to amp up the visual interest via candles.

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Honeysuckle & Jasmine Candle

Pros

  • Burns clean!
  • Can get scented and unscented beeswax candles
  • Comes in a variety of fragrances
  • All-natural cotton wicks

Cons

  • None worth noting!

The story behind Lomar Farms is just as good as the candles themselves. A Harlem-based husband and wife duo their historic brownstone and set out toward their new 200-year-old farmhouse outside New York City. They turned the farm (named after their two daughters) into a business, one of which includes these fabulous beeswax candles that come in the most luscious scents.

10
best fun description candles

Anecdote Candles Rooftop SoirĂŠe Candle

Rooftop SoirĂŠe Candle

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Scents available in jar or tin
  • Phthalate-free and cruelty free
  • All-natural wax

Cons

  • Not the longest burn time

Anecdote Candles' fragrances are made to get people to really ~feel~ something, with smells influenced by "personal recollections and cultural trends." We suggest you get Rooftop SoirĂŠe if you want to be transported to boozy summer nights ASAP.

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11
best stress-relieving candles

Spoken Flames Focused Candle

Focused Candle
Credit: Spoken Flames

Pros

  • Pretty darn affordable
  • Vegan, non-toxic, phthalate-free
  • Wax has a gold shimmer
  • Wick makes a soft crackling sound

Cons

  • Must spend $75 for free shipping

Spoken Flames just knows what the people need, and the people (hi, it me) need to relax. I have this exact candle sitting pretty on my desk, so when the deadlines are closing in and the emails are stacking up, the soft blend of vanilla, eucalyptus, and sandalwood remind me it's all gonna get done. The brand also has one one the best smelling melon candles my nostrils have ever encountered.

12
best animal-obsessed candles

PyroPet Einar Dreki Skeleton Candle

Amazon’s Choice
Einar Dreki Skeleton Candle

Pros

  • Eco-friendly packaging
  • You're in for a surprise inside when the wax burns down

Cons

  • Candle is unscented

These animal-shaped candles are fully about the looks, and we're not mad about it. If you're on the hunt for some seriously cool (and slightly spooky) decor, then go for this one that melts down to reveal a metal skeleton inside (!).

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13
best hand-blown glass votive candles

LAFCO Marine Candle

Marine Candle
Credit: Lafco

Pros

  • 4 size options
  • Gorgeous handblown-glass votives
  • Long burn time
  • Sustainably made

Cons

  • On the expensive side

Thanks to LAFCO's sophisticated handblown-glass packaging and heavenly scents (swooning over fresh-cut gardenia and "Sea and Dune"), this brand is beloved by candle enthusiasts everywhere. Who among us doesn't want to whiff notes of sea jasmine, rose, cyclamen, and bergamot?

Abuela's Bakery Candle
Credit: Bonita Fierce

Pros

  • Paraben-free and phthalate free
  • FSC-certified wooden wick
  • Plantable seed paper dust cover
  • Hand-poured in small batches so no one candle is the same

Cons

  • None worth noting!

What started as a quarantine hobby for founder Melissa Gallardo has become a full-on soy wax candle business. Not only are these votives environmentally friendly, but they also smell amazing and feature super cute labels inspired by Melissa's Latinx heritage.

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15
best unique scented candles

Otherland Berkshires Granola Candle

Berkshires Granola Candle
Credit: Otherland

Pros

  • So! Many! Fun! Scents!
  • Gorgeous packaging you'll want to show off
  • All-natural coconut and soy wax blend

Cons

  • Smell doesn't dissipate as much as some others on the list

The vibrant packaging on Otherland's candles is incomparable, and their scents are just impeccable. (Shout-out to their non-toxic coconut and soy wax blend and 100-percent cotton wicks!). Their collections always include some v relaxing vibes with bright and bold aromas.

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